Old Friends...New Additions...

Congratulations to Phil & Stephenie Brugger and the little guys: Blake, Kade, & Chase on the birth of...
PAIGE ELIZABETH BRUGGER

Greg and I were able leave our kids for a few hours and visit with 2-day-old baby Paige and her family for a little while. She is sooo tiny and cuddly!

Paige will soon be learning to wrestle and play football :)

Learning how to hold a baby sister...


Big boy Blake, already in kindergarten!

I feel so blessed to have so many friends who have common goals and interests! Stephenie is one of those...

1st Day of School 09-10!

This summer seemed to be an unusual one for me. Temperatures were perfect most days, making the outdoors much more appealing. Greg played softball from late May through early August. His team did well, and I made it to every game except the one that was played during camp. We had lots of fun at the ballfield, especially when Valerie and Aubrey were able to join us! I don't recall hearing the boys say, "I'm bored!", and Evan even mentioned that the summer had flown for him. My kids love to ride their bikes (Ryan taught Kailynn to ride without her training wheels), so they spent lots of time just hanging out, riding around, doing yard work, playing ball, and taking care of their pets. Ryan also did a paper route with a friend many days this summer.
Now it is time for school, and they are excited about that! Ryan is in 5th grade, and Evan is in 3rd. Kaitlynn starts kindergarten this year. Marea Pouzar is still the boy's teacher (thank goodness for her!), and Kaitlynn will be in my class. The boys classroom is done in a construction theme this month. Enjoy the pics!

LETTER FROM AN EXCELLENT BOSS




Dear Employees:

As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barrack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a B IG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. B ut since we cannot increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead. This has really been bothering me since I believe we are family here and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go.

So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty 'Obama' bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change...... I gave it to them.


I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.


THE BOSS

Good Times, Great Friends...

A few Fridays ago, our long-lost cousins Mike and Beth Dickinson called to see if we could have dinner with them (they seem long-lost, but the fact is they only live about an hour away). We were able to pull it together quickly, and met at a mexican place just down I-75 a few miles. The food was great, the service not so much. We wrapped it up with ice cream, cookies, and coffee at McD's (it was really for the playland...whenever we get together with friends at a restaurant, we usually wear out our welcome and have to move on to another. Really now, what waitress wouldn't want to deal with a dozen kids for 3 or 4 hours anyway? Ha!)
Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Michael trying to convince us that he loves Beth more than his coffee...I don't think he could live without either of them!


Isaiah enjoying his chocolate chip cookies...


My first time to see Sophia...


You don't even want to know the stories these two could tell...at least I don't want my boys to know!


I guess we know whose side of the family is responsible for these two nutcases, right Beth? :)

Smiles...

What Do You Do When...

...you have a really great pic, but there is this ugly pink thing just to the upper right of the main object, and you can't crop it without compromising the photo????
Enlarge the pic for the "full" effect!:)

Harmony ~Class of 2009~

I'm hopelessly behind in blogging. The saying "I'm so far behind I thought I was first" could almost be my motto lately! Although I'm not officially working yet, I have been doing lots of preliminary stuff from home, which has been pretty time consuming, as well as the day to day routine of taking care of four kids and a home (some of you know all about that)! The kids are ready for school. Summer flew for them, until this week. I don't know that I have heard anyone utter the phrase "I'm bored" -- they know I would make them un-bored real quick -lol---but they are ready for structure and challenge.
Here are some photos from Harmony Burley's open house, which took place in June. Since she was only 4 when Greg and I started dating, I can't believe she is old enough to be out of school and headed for college! I didn't get a great variety of pics, but here are the few I have.
Best friends...Harmony and Amanda...
Khara and Kelsey...I think Khara was enjoying the remnants of the chocolate buffet...

Harmony and her aunties :)...Karson and Allison didn't get the memo about the photo shoot!

Carl and Dorothy Johnson...like grandparents to Harmony...

Uncle Greg and Harmony always end up in a wrestling/tickling match...I won't say who usually wins...

Harmony and her bf...

I can't give you any explanation on this photo...these are some of the cousins...Ryan with a nerf vest...Allison eating off of the floor...Kaden cheesing away...just havin' a ball!

Uncle Mark, Harmony, and Uncle Greg...

Congratulations, Harmony! We are proud of you!

TAKING PRIDE AGAIN!

I don't know your feelings on the matter, but I've been a little downhearted about the whole political scene lately. Not so much because the "other" party is running the show, but because the America that I know and love is being turned inside out at the will of a few idiots in Washington D.C. (you might find that disrespectful, but it's true).
For those who love all the government goodies, and would rather receive those tax-payer provided "gifts" than to get a job (or jobs - whatever it takes) and pay their own bills, none of this even matters. For the rest of us who want to be able to make our own choices, and take home our own paychecks (which actually assures future security and prosperity), we are sick.
This week, I have been amazed by average conservative Americans, who are showing up to speak their heart, and do their patriotic duty. I'm proud of them! They are well-spoken and knowledgeable of the subjects (as opposed to many of their senators and representatives).
If you have the opportunity to attend a Town Hall Mtg., I hope that you will be there and have the backbone to stand up for basic principles of freedom. Our founders were some of the most intelligent, sacrificial, and well-meaning men that ever lived. Unfortunately, most young Americans will never know or understand their greatness. Here is what Thomas Jefferson had to say:

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is

big enough to take away everything you have."

If you don't believe it, just wait and see.